Dentist

[JodyC]

I am sooooooooo frustrated. My appointment with the surgeon a couple of weeks ago went really well but he did tell me he wanted me to have my valve replacement done within a month. Well, that was fine with me and I told him I wanted to get my wisdom teeth out first because it would be harder to have it done afterwards. He agreed and told me to call the office and schedule when I was ready. So I have been to two dentists this week. The fist dentist said she did extractions and thought it would not be an issue. She cost me 200 and took x-rays with some type of machine that no one else uses so that was a waste and she felt with my medical issues she didn't feel comfortable doing the extractions. She then sent me to an oral surgeon. He took more x rays and spent 10 minutes telling me he would prefer I went to a different oral surgeon and referred me to someone else and charged me another 200. I am not a rich person. I am a single mom who has already had cancer and other surgeries and I can't afford this run around. I don't want to go to any more oral surgeons only to find out they don't want to help me. Everyone I call said they can't promise anything unless I come in for a consult. I need two wisdom teeth pulled and two fillings. I have to be sedated because the one is really close to the nerve. I called my cardiologist today and told them what was going on and they suggested I try my cardio surgeon?s office and see if they could suggest someone. I am waiting for them to call me back tomorrow. Have any of you had this problem? Jeez, everybody acts like I am going to die in the chair. My cardio surgeon said they would not operate until I had my wisdom teeth out because the one is infected. I am really getting depressed. I had myself finally talked into my OHS and now this happens. Any suggestions?

 

[ALCapshaw2]

WOW, What a BUMMER !

I think I would write a letter to each of those dentists stating that you feel it is outrageous for them to charge you so much to then tell you THEY were not comfortable doing your extraction. Then ask them to either DROP or at least LOWER their charges.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Jkm7]

When I was at the hospital on my pre-op day (the day before my surgery), I heard of two patients who needed immediate dental work done and the hospital dentists were doing it. It had to have been their surgeons who made that referral. These people were also there for pre-op. Perhaps your surgeon can make similar arrangements for you at the hospital where you will have your surgery even if you have it done days/week before your heart surgery.

Good luck and please let us know how it all works out.

 

[brd]

suggestion

suggestion

Jody one suggestion I have would be to check out teaching hospitals with dental departments in your area. I'm not sure where you are having your surgery but if it is a teaching hospital that would be the obvious place to start You might be safer there too given that you said you would need anesthesia for this procedure.

Good luck finding someone to do this for you. Barbara

 

[Lisa in Katy]

Those x-rays belong to you. Get them from the previous guys and take them with you to the next one. Ask your surgeon or cardiologist for a consult and ask them to talk to the dentist before hand. My mom worked for an oral surgeon for several years, and all patients had sedation with tooth extraction. Last, don't pay if they refuse to treat. If they bill you, write a letter explaining your position. $200 for a consult is ridiculous.

 

[Dina]

JKM7 and Lisa give good advice-I had to have some dental work done at
the last minute in the hospital(a filling that had come out) , I dont know
if you have this option,but it seems your doc could order this for you.
Good Luck,

 

[JCSydney]

That sounds terrible Jody, no wonder your frustrated. My surgeon wouldn't operate unless my dentist gave the a-ok. Apart from taking some medication prior to seeing her, my dentist was fine with carrying out the work required, but then forgot to fax the surgeon with the results. I hope everything turns out well for you.

Jeff.

 

[MNmom]

I was told to wait too

I was told to wait too

I was thinking I should get my wisdom teeth out before surgery, so I got a consultaion and scheduled a date, and then gave an FYI that I was having my wisdom teeth removed at a recent cardiologist appt. He was the one who told me not to do it until after surgery. He said I am better off taking them out with a low dose of coumadin than putting my heart through sedation at this point (though i do not have an infection in my teeth). It is frusterating though to have Drs not want to touch you because of your heart. Best of luck, and I too would ask the Dr who suggested that you do this for a referral for an oral surgeon. It is also proabably best bet to have them removed in a hospital setting.

 

[Philip B]

Dentist stuff

Dentist stuff

I agree with Katy. You paid for the x-rays; the x-rays are yours. I also agree that $200.00 for a consult is absurd.

Hopefully, your surgeon can help find you an oral surgeon.

-Philip

 

[PairoDocs]

Fyi

Fyi

Just so you know, you can do any dental extraction or root canal under local anesthesia. ALL teeth are close to the nerve, and even have nerves traveling up into them. The sedation is more for anxiety than for anything else. I have had all of my root canals and extractions done with local only (many). Dental care is also recommended for pregnant women, and they can't have general anesthesia or sedation, either. The organization I used to work for (public health) made sure that these women knew they couldn't have anything except local. Yes, there were some folks that refused to do it without sedation, but mostly folks were grateful. Ask the local dentists if they would do it under local only. If you do have anxiety, take a valium or something similar prior.

I agree that those charges are outrageous. I also think that your cardiologist or surgeon may know an oral surgeon who has privileges at the hospital and can send a letter "clearing" you for surgery done under local.

Hope it works out soon.

Cool breezes in Idaho,
-Laura

 

[jds]

Given the hassle, why not wait?

Given the hassle, why not wait?

Hello -

From what you have been through, it might be better to hold off. If your wisdom teeth are not a problem now, wait for a year or two after cardiac surgery and do it then.

I had to postpone my surgery for a month just to get a dental cleaning done for dental clearance. I was worried about losing my slot with a surgeon I really wanted to use.

If your teeth are a problem, impacted or something, I agree with the earlier poster that you push your surgeon or cardiologist for a referral to a dentist who knows about the cardiac issues up front.

Good luck -

John

 

[Jkm7]

Prior to my surgery, my surgeon required a letter from my dentist indicating I had no infection in my mouth or need for dental work. He would not proceed without it. Jody (OP) said there is infection in one of the teeth so it is probable the surgeon wants that tooth extracted prior to surgery.

I am 8 weeks post op and this week received a 'reminder card' from my dentist for my cleaning/scaling I had scheduled prior to knowing I was having a second OHS. I called my surgeon's office to see if I should go and they said "No". I am to wait 6 months. There is a direct connection between oral health and heart health. Infection easily travels to our hearts from our mouths.

 

[JodyC]

feeling worse

feeling worse

Well, I just got turned down by yet another oral surgeon. At least this time they turned me down on the phone so it didn't cost me anything. I have another one to call tomorrow. I have a letter from my cardiologist stating that it is ok to pull my teeth. Now I just have to find someone who isn't afraid of me. It doesn?t' help that I am feeling worse by the day. I had to leave work today because I was really short of breath and then I got panicky and couldn't stop crying. I would schedule my surgery for next week if I could I am feeling so bad. My chest hurts and I keep getting really scared. Any advice would be really helpful you guys. I am really starting to feel like I am not going to make it. I will call my cardio tomorrow. I mostly slept today.

 

[Jkm7]

I feel so bad to read what you are going through.

As suggestion, it might be a good idea for you to call your surgeon rather than cardio. Explain all you are going through and ask him for suggestions how to proceed. It is the surgeon who needs to be sure you have no infection in your mouth. Most major hospitals have dentists and your surgeon should be able to refer you for the necessary dental work to a hospital dental department. If that isn't possible, ask for his/her help in getting this work done. It would be a little surprising if he/his office doesn't help.

Why leave this stress on yourself over the weekend.....call the surgeon's office tomorrow.

GOOD LUCK. There is a solution to your issue and you will find it. Before you know it, your dental work will be done and you will be scheduling your surgery. Let us know how you are doing.

 

[JodyC]

dentist

dentist

I have talked to the surgeons office originally and then they contacted my cardio for the letter to take to the dentist. I will call them again tomorrow and ask about a hospital dentist. Thank you for your response.

 

[ponygirlmom]

I feel for you! I just had my wisdom teeth out last week because one was infected, and now I found out that I need a crown replaced because that's infected, too!

I hope by now you've found an oral surgeon who is comfortable working on a heart patient. My oral surgeon talked to both my cardiologist and my cardiac surgeon to get approval for the sedative and antibiotics he wanted to use.

I guess my only advice is to make your first question to any potential doctor: "Will you operate on someone awaiting heart surgery?" And I would definitely go to an oral surgeon, not a dentist. Since you already had enough health problems, I would go straight to the expert.

 

[JodyC]

I found one!

I found one!

Yes!!! I finally found an oral surgeon who will pull my wisdom teeth! I go tomorrow at 10am and he is going to put me under. I am going to have my surgery date today too. I am planning for sometime around May 19th. Just wanted to let everyone know and thanks to all of you for your help and good advice.

 

[ponygirlmom]

Yes!!! I finally found an oral surgeon who will pull my wisdom teeth! I go tomorrow at 10am and he is going to put me under. I am going to have my surgery date today too. I am planning for sometime around May 19th. Just wanted to let everyone know and thanks to all of you for your help and good advice.

Yippee! I don't know what time zone you're in, so you may be on your way to the doctors right now. I'll be having a follow-up appointment today probably about the time you're getting hungry and realizing that your mouth is still numb. Ah, what memories....

 

[khawkk]

Jody,

Please keep us posted.

We all send our love!

 

[Jkm7]

Jody.... I was thinking about you yesterday and wondered how you were doing. Thanks for the update.

Hopefully the extractions went easily and you are now able to proceed with getting your surgery scheduled.

Good luck. Let us know how you are.